Pressure responsive device



Oct. 19, 1937. M. P. DE MOTTE" 2,096,671

PRESSURE RESPONSIVE DEVICE v Filed May 25, 1935 l Patented Oct. 19, 1937v ENTf OFFICE PRESSURE lnilsr'olaslvr; DEvloiz L Maurice P. De Motte, Indianapolis, Ind.,v assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Union Carbide vand Carbon York Corporation, a corporation, of' New Application May z3, 1933, vserial No.- l572,440 9 claims. (ci.L 137-156) This invention relates to pressure responsive devices, such as spring controlled regulators, and

more particularly to an improved pressure responsive device or regulator having a spring therein compressed to a small fraction of its free length and retained in said compressed condition.

Heretofore regulators of the diaphragm type',

having a compressed spring bearing against the diaphragm for regulating either gaseous pressure or a control mechanism, have been slow to respond, especially when -operating under relatively high pressures. Springs strong enough to furnish the requisite counter pressure have been short and heavy in order to allow replacement or repair and ease of assembly. Such springs are not sensitive to quick changes in load or pressure on the diaphragm because of theirstiiness and for that reason have not been found to be entirely satisfactory.

An object of this invention is to provide a pressure responsive device or regulator having `a spring retained in a compressed, workable position at all times in` order to facilitate assembly' and replacement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spring retaining device suitable for use in mechanisms requiring controlling springs khaving a freev length much greater than their working length and being sensitive lto very slight pressure changes.

'Iheseand other objects together with the novel I features of this invention willbe more evident from the following description and accompany-r ing drawing, of which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a pressure responl sive device, including a spring and diaphragm assembly and embodying one form of. this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an alternative form of spring retaining device.

. A pressure responsive device embodying this invention may include a diaphragm D which is subject to and operable under the eiects of pressure within a body or casing A of apparatus containing a iiuid under pressure. I'he diaphragm D is clamped around its peripheraledge between an annular member B, attached tothe casing A;

a helical spring S is retained in compressed conditionin a' space much shorterthan, or a fraction of, its freelength.

The coiled or helical. spring s lsprererably ini-l tially compressed between a-at surfaced plate II) and a conical plate IIby a suitable press (not Shown). The Spring may then be retained in its compressed condition by a "retaining ringffIZ, which is held against a shoulder I3' in the cap (.2A by screws I4 s othatthe inner edge thereof will act asa stop to check the movement of the ,plate I0 when the spring S is expanded against mini?.

mum pressure in the casing A and on theA dia` ting of the working length of the spring S and to.v center the spring, the outer plate I I is made conical in form, the concave side vof the; plate phragm D. In order to allowadjustment or set- A receiving the end of a screw I5A under `theapel'r of the cone. The screw I5 is threadedly. supported in the end of the cap C and has a conveniently shaped head I6 for changing the position of the screw. Both the inner and outer plates vI0 yand II may havey shoulders adjacent" the marginal edges for receiving and retaining the ends of the'spring without slippagej 'I'he inner plate IIl mayv be provided ywith any.l convenient diaphragm] bearing guide. One r.of suchguides,fas shown in the Ileveroperating mechanism` of Fig. l, may comprise 4a disc vI'I having a flat area bearing against the diaphragm D and having a vrim I8 which passes through the central' space in the retaining ring-Hand rests on the spring plate III. A yoke I 9 `which forms a respective part of the lever may have a shank 2ll"centered in an aperture in the diaphragm D' and threadedly secured ina drilling in the disc I1.

'I'he yoke I 9 is provided withan enlarged shoulder 2| bearing againstl the insideof the diaphragm D so that when a nut 22 is tightenedon the shank outside the 'disc Il, the diaphragm.' discand yoke are all brought into rigid c'onnecj tion and move cooperatively in response to pressure within the-casing A orto counterpressure of f operating a valve or Vother control device '(not a link 2a joining the yoke ls and the lever sz at" pivotal points 24 and 25 respectively. `'Ihe lever rockably supported between the sides of a cradle Thecradle member 21 is preferably heldin positionby screws 28 threadedly secured to the memshown). A preferred lever mounting comprises f I '32 may be additionally'pivotedat vZevi/here it is 1 I. and a cap or housing C, within the latter of which memberv 21, one side. of which appears in Fig. 1.

ber B.' VIrwin be "appreciated that any axial movement offthev diaphragm and yoke willbe transmitted to the link and lever arm 32 so that the free end of the lever arm may be made to operates valve or other device. The arrangement which has been described is particularly adaptable for regulator openden or n wbme generator. although it may be applied to other apparatus. a

'Ihe member B welded or soldered tol the'casingA, maintaining the sameln permanent position. However. it is preferred to bolt the cap C into place on the member B, andfor that purpose flanges!! and Il are provided which clamp the outer' margin of the diaphragm D tightly therebetween when brought together by bolts 3l.' An alternative formv of spring retainer, asl

shnwninll'igzmsyeompriseawlindrical clip or housing Il enclosing a spring I! which has been compressed to a relatively short working 'lengthby forcing the springinto theolip to a fraction of its fr ee length andfthen bending over the edges ll of the open-end of the clip. Before compressingthe spring l2, however. a-plate Il having -a shoulder I is fitted into the movable The eied'ndor uv.- cup 4| my be laureav` upwardlyatthe to form a conical portion 41 into which an screw Il may be inserted. An annular space Il around the upwardly deformed portion oi' the clip serves to Y center the end of the spring I2.

. the other side of said The clip Iljilts slidably withina cap or housing Il whichhas an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the clip.y and a drilling 5| provided with threads permits the screw ll tomovetheclip withlnthecap llsoasto compress the spring to a greater or less extent.

In` order to hold the screw 4Q in a 4given position a lock nut lI2 is provided ywhich may be tightened vagainst the cap.

n wur be appreciatedy um :sensitive spring retained by either of the methodsdescribed may be employed in a wide variety of ways. Besides being adaptable for use in regulators-,for carbide o generators, similar spring assemblies may be employed in pressure regulators, inirelief valves and in other apparatus inwhich it is advantageous to make use of the quick acting enect.` of a long springcompressed into a small space.

Both in assembling and in dimnnuing for re-` pairs, it will be` found that a spring retained as has been described is easily handled. It becomes unnecessary to recompress the spring on reassembly and the danger attached to releasing a highb compressed spring which is not perinanently retained is eliminated. Y

Although a preferred embodiment and an alternative formo! this invention have been de-. f

scribed, it will be understood that changes may be made without departing from the .scope of thisinvention.` I `claim: j. 1. Ina pressure responsive thereof to iluid pressure: a capsecured against n diaphragm; a sprinsdisposed `within saidcap for exerting s.l pressure upon said diaphragm in oppltion to said fluid pressure; means for transmitting the, pressure of .x device. the bination of a diaphragm subject onrfoneside' amen said spring to said diaphragm: andy retaining neans enclosed within said cap and removable therefrom for maintaining said spring compressed `to a fraction of its free length, said retaining means embracing th ends of said spring and being adapted to permit the removal of said cap from contact with said diaphragm while said spring remains compressed to a fraction of its free length.

'2; In a-iluid pressure responsive device. the combination of a diaphragm subject on one side thereof to thepressure of a fluid within a casing; 'a cap adapted to be secured'against said diaphragm on the opposite side thereof; a spring disposed within said cap for exerting pressure upon said diaphragm in opposition to said fluid pressure;V retaining means embracing the ends of said spring for maintaining said spring compressed to affraction of its free length, said retaining means being enclosed within said cap and removable therefrom; and adjustable means in operative engagement with said retaining means for further compressing said spring. 3. A iluid pressure responsive device having a ycasing; a diaphragm secured to said casing vin responsiverrelation to fluid pressure in said casing; a cap secured to said casing; a spring disposed within said cap vfor exerting a pressure upon said .diaphragm in opposition' to saidY iluidV pressure; retaining means, enclosed withinv said cap and removable therefrom, for maintaining said spring compressed to a fraction of its freel length; a pressure. plate secured in said cap by said retaining means and bearing against said spring; and a pressure disc attached to said dia# phragm vand having a rim extending through an opening invsaid retaining Ymeans into Voperative engagement with saidpressure `plate and provided withmeansfor guiding said rim with re-l spect 'to said pressure plate.

4. A iluid pressure responsive device having a casing; a diaphragm secured to said casing in responsive relation to the fluid pressure in said casing; a cap secured to said casing; a spring' disposed within said cap for exerting a pressure upon said diaphragm in oppositionto said uid pressure; retaining means, enclosed within said cap and removable therefrom, for maintaining said vspring compressed to a fraction of its free length: a pressure plate having a centrallydlsposed bore and bearing against one end of said spring; and means for' transmitting pressure from said plate to said diaphragm including a guiding stem .adapted to slide within said bore and` a rim disposed about said stem and adapted to contact said pressure plate, said'stem and said rim `being adapted pass through an aperture fin said retaining m ans.

5. A fluid pressure responsivedevice having a casing; a diaphragm secured Itol said casing in responsive relation to fluid pressure in said casing; a c ap removably secured to said casing; a spring disposed within said cap for exertingy a pressure upon said diaphragm in opposition to suchiluid pressure; and retaining means, en-

closed within said cap for maintaining said springl compressed to affraction otits free'v length, saidretaining means comprising 'a pair of members, f

Vembracing oppositeends of said spring, one of said *members-being removably secured to @said cap by means independent of said casing, where l bysaidspringandsaidretainingmeansareremovable with-said cap from said easing. y v

6. .A uid pressure responsive device havingva casing; to said jcasing in responsive relation to iluid pressure in said casing; a cap removably secured to said casing: a spring disposed within said cap for exerting a pressure upon said diaphragm in opposition td such iluid pressure; retaining means enclosed within said cap and removable therefrom and embracing the ends of said spring for maintaining said spring compressed to a fraction oi its free length; a pressure plate for said spring secured within said cap by said retaining means; and` a pressure disc for said diaphragm, said'disc having a rim extending through 'an opening in said retaining means into operative engagement with said pressure plate, said spring and said retaining means being removable with said cap from said casing so as to remove said rim from operative engagement with said pressure plate.

'1. A fluid pressure responsive device having a casing; a diaphragm adapted to be secured to said casing in responsive relation tothe fluid pressure in said casing; a cap adapted to secure said diaphragm to said casing; a spring disposed within said cap and adapted to exert a pressure upon said diaphragm in opposition to said fluid pressure; a plate in operative engagement with the end of said spring adjacent said diaphragm; a second plate in operative engagement with the other end of said spring, s 'aid spring engaging plates -being disposed within said cap; a plate having an aperture therethrough and disposed within said cap adiacent said diaphragm, said plate being removably secured to said cap and being adapted to contact the ilrst oi' said spring engaging plates so as to maintain said spring compressed to a fraction of its free length; a pressure disc for said diaphragm having a por-` tion thereof extending through the aperture in said retaining plate so as to operatively contact said nrst spring engaging plate; and adjustable means in operative engagement with the second o!` said spring engaging plates for. further ccmpressing said spring.

8. In a fluid pressure responsive device, the combination of a diaphragm subject on one side thereof to iluid pressure; a cap secured against said diaphragm on the other side thereof; a spring-disped within said cap and normally partially compressed; a pressure plate in operative engagement with the end of said spring adjacent said diaphragm; means for transmitting the pressure of said spring from said plate to said diaphragm, said means being disengageable from said plate: and means in operative engagement with the other end oi said spring for re-a vstraining the movement of said spring and plate beyond a predetermined extent so as to maintain said spring normally partially compressed; saidv spring, said plate, and said restraining means being removable from said cap as a 'unit with said spring partially compressed.`v

9. In a iluid pressure responsive device, the combination oi'V a diaphragm subject on one side thereof to the pressure of a iluid within acasing; a cap secured against said diaphragm on the other side thereof a spring disposed within said cap for exerting pressure upon said diaphragm in opposition to said nuid pressure; and retaining means enclosed within said cap and embracing the ends of said spring for maintaining said spring compressed to a fraction of its free length, said retaining means and said spring being removable from said cap as a u'nit.

MAURICE P. DE MOTTE. 

